Now that I live by a range, even though I am in the city I would like to get back into shooting. I am a totally clueless as far as pistols go or the legal process to get one.

I am mainly look for some recommendations on one that will last, fits large hands well, and could be used to carry ( for a future ccw). I have enough other projects so I am hoping to not modify it. So simple and durable. I visted a local gun shop -45 min drive there-, and most of them were used. Anything I should avoid there, besides obvious wear marks or crusty barrels.

I'm assuming 9mm, .44, .45 to help keep the costs down so I can enjoy this one and awhile.

Idears?

glock, pick your flavor.

Glock 19.

15 + 1 rounds of 9mm on board, small enough to carry but big enough to fight with.

I like my Springfield XD better than Glocks.

Best idea is to go to a range with rental guns. Shoot them all and buy which one is the most comfortable. Nowadays almost any gun from a major manufacturer is going to run right.

Here are some to look at that people swear about:

Cheapish:
Ruger
Taurus

Middle of the Road:
Glock
Springfield XD
Smith & Wesson M&P
Walther
High Endish:
Sig Sauer (not sure what you budget is)
H&K


It really depends on how much you have to spend, whats comfortable, and what you plan on using it for.

edit: You asked about the paperwork. I'm not sure about Michigan but in Georgia you walk in, pick your gun, wait 15 minutes for a background check, pay and leave.

Glock 19.

15 + 1 rounds of 9mm on board, small enough to carry but big enough to fight with.

X2 and cheap enough on the ammo to practice with

G19 or G17. Just a personal preference. Lots of good guns out there.

Ruger PT1911 :smokin:

X2 and cheap enough on the ammo to practice with

x3

also place the gun in your hand and ideally you should be able to hit the magazine release and slide stop with your thumb without having to adjust the gun.....

if you have larger hands look at the full size 17 it might fit better......

for carry rounds or ccw buy speer gold dot +p ammo....1 of the best defense rounds out there....

the 9mm ammo is a little cheaper than the 45 ammo in the long run

I have large hands and I shoot best with my Sig 226 in 9mm. :smokin:

Another vote for XD, I've got big hands and it just seems to fit better.

love the sig sauers. get one with the "dual" kit. run it on 9mm for a few thousand rounds on the cheap to get your feel for it and then switch to the .40 or .357 for some knock down power when your using it to fend off zombies etc.

Glock!!

love the sig sauers. get one with the "dual" kit. run it on 9mm for a few thousand rounds on the cheap to get your feel for it and then switch to the .40 or .357 for some knock down power when your using it to fend off zombies etc.

The 9mm can't run anything else. The 40 and 357 sig have swappable barrel (the chassis, spring and mag are the same).

I've got a 229R-OD in .40 with a .357 ported barrel and love it. The .357sig is a very snappy fun round.

I'll have to say Springfield XD as well. Good price for a great pistol. I'd go for a 9mm or .40 just to save money on ammo.

I got my .45acp XD for $535. It came with usuall holster, 2 mags, mag holster and mag loader. But I got a Insight pistol light for free as well. Some Springfield special were they included the SSL-1 with a few pistols.

i vote glock 19

Best idea is to go to a range with rental guns.


Wow that would be nice if that was advertised around here. My boss has a couple and he said I could shoot them at the range any time after work, so I need to try his out yet.

I need to make more local friends with pistols, so I can mooch some firing time off them.

Also hard for me to get my mind out of big long barrel pistols, I've enjoyed those for hunting before. But a 6-8" barrel would be a bitch in my back.

Pick up a Glock, and an XD in the caliber of your choice and buy which ever one fits your hand the best.

To buy a pistol without a cpl in michigan, you need to go to your sheriff's department and get a permit to purchase. Then you can buy the pistol but you have to take it back into the sheriff's dept. for a safety inspection within 10 days.

To buy a pistol with a cpl, you can just show the license and buy it, but you still need to take the pistol in to have it inspected within 10 days.

This applies the same with private transactions along with buying from a licensed dealer.

Wow that would be nice if that was advertised around here. My boss has a couple and he said I could shoot them at the range any time after work, so I need to try his out yet.

I need to make more local friends with pistols, so I can mooch some firing time off them.

Also hard for me to get my mind out of big long barrel pistols, I've enjoyed those for hunting before. But a 6-8" barrel would be a bitch in my back.

Call around. I was at my local range today and they have just about every popular pistol for rent for $7.50 and thats all day for any gun they have. So potentially you could try 40 guns for $7.50 and save yourself from a $500 mistake.

To buy a pistol without a cpl in michigan, you need to go to your sheriff's department and get a permit to purchase. Then you can buy the pistol but you have to take it back into the sheriff's dept. for a safety inspection within 10 days.

To buy a pistol with a cpl, you can just show the license and buy it, but you still need to take the pistol in to have it inspected within 10 days.

This applies the same with private transactions along with buying from a licensed dealer.

Is this still true? I swear I read somewhere today that they got rid of it. Something about it expiring on some national "guns suck" day. What do I know.

edit: Guess not. (http://www.michigan.gov/msp/0,1607,7-123-1591_3503_4654-16241--,00.html) Thats fucking gay. Also it said a NICS check on people that already have a CCW? Wtf? I wonder where police could free up some time to catch bad guys instead of doing useless paperwork. :idea: They could get rid of that BS.

To buy a pistol without a cpl in michigan, you need to go to your sheriff's department and get a permit to purchase. Then you can buy the pistol but you have to take it back into the sheriff's dept. for a safety inspection within 10 days.

To buy a pistol with a cpl, you can just show the license and buy it, but you still need to take the pistol in to have it inspected within 10 days.

This applies the same with private transactions along with buying from a licensed dealer.


This process will change after 180 days, I believe. A new law was just signed by the governor that eliminated the "safety inspection" and turning it into a clusterfuck, IMHO. Google SB370 and HB4491 for more of the specifics. Basically, the State Police will now know about every pistol you ever buy...forever. Before, they were supposed to destroy the purchase permits after the pistol is inspected. With this bill, state legislature also had the chance to re-write the law that forbids SBR and SBS in MI but chose not to do a fucking thing. Just one more reason I'm looking to get the fuck out of this state.

Enough of the hijack, I'd also recommend you go to a range that rents pistols and find what fits and shoots the best for you. I believe Silver Bullet in Wyoming is fairly close to you and I hear they are quite knowledgeable. Not sure if they have a range, though.

I used to carry a Glock 21 .45 when i was a LEO, now i carry the Springfield XD .45 on daily basis. I also own a Colt Defendor .45 but the XD is the better gun IMO.

S&W 500 is a great carry gun.

Seriously though. Don't buy a gun without shooting it. A friend of mine really wanted a g27. He went to the range shot it and hated it. Granted the gun needed an overhaul because it FTE soo many times because of a weak extractor and it stovepiped left and right. But like I said it needed an overhaul.

I carry and XD, it has a much better grip angle than the Glock. I'm thinking my next gun is either a para 1911 or S&W 460